In Search of Silvestr
by Jan Beránek
“In 2017, I started my research on the fate of granduncle Silvestr Nemec, a young Czech employed by the Bata Show Company in Singapore, who volunteered to fight the Japanese when they invaded the island during World War II. He went missing in 1942 and was involved in two historic events of the falls of Singapore: the battle of Pasir Panjang Ridge where the Malay Regiment made their last stands on Bukit Chandu and the Alexandra Hospital massacre.
Over time, my quest produced whole collection of stories that spanned a century and across continents, covering not just Silvestr’s life but also the Bata company in the Far East, other Czechoslovaks who lived in Singapore before and during World War II, as well as my own journey of discovery.
Not in my wildest dreams did I expect that my research would take my so far. On many occasions - such as when I was studying how Tomas Bata organised his business, or what other Batamen captured in their diaries, letters and articles about their works and life in Singapore in 1930s - I could vividly picture Silvestr in those contexts and situaltions.
My book about my granduncle Silvestr was first published in Czech in October 2020.
Size: 130 × 215 mm
Extent: 287 pages text
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 480 g
ISBN: 978-981-94-1919-7
by Jan Beránek
“In 2017, I started my research on the fate of granduncle Silvestr Nemec, a young Czech employed by the Bata Show Company in Singapore, who volunteered to fight the Japanese when they invaded the island during World War II. He went missing in 1942 and was involved in two historic events of the falls of Singapore: the battle of Pasir Panjang Ridge where the Malay Regiment made their last stands on Bukit Chandu and the Alexandra Hospital massacre.
Over time, my quest produced whole collection of stories that spanned a century and across continents, covering not just Silvestr’s life but also the Bata company in the Far East, other Czechoslovaks who lived in Singapore before and during World War II, as well as my own journey of discovery.
Not in my wildest dreams did I expect that my research would take my so far. On many occasions - such as when I was studying how Tomas Bata organised his business, or what other Batamen captured in their diaries, letters and articles about their works and life in Singapore in 1930s - I could vividly picture Silvestr in those contexts and situaltions.
My book about my granduncle Silvestr was first published in Czech in October 2020.
Size: 130 × 215 mm
Extent: 287 pages text
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 480 g
ISBN: 978-981-94-1919-7
by Jan Beránek
“In 2017, I started my research on the fate of granduncle Silvestr Nemec, a young Czech employed by the Bata Show Company in Singapore, who volunteered to fight the Japanese when they invaded the island during World War II. He went missing in 1942 and was involved in two historic events of the falls of Singapore: the battle of Pasir Panjang Ridge where the Malay Regiment made their last stands on Bukit Chandu and the Alexandra Hospital massacre.
Over time, my quest produced whole collection of stories that spanned a century and across continents, covering not just Silvestr’s life but also the Bata company in the Far East, other Czechoslovaks who lived in Singapore before and during World War II, as well as my own journey of discovery.
Not in my wildest dreams did I expect that my research would take my so far. On many occasions - such as when I was studying how Tomas Bata organised his business, or what other Batamen captured in their diaries, letters and articles about their works and life in Singapore in 1930s - I could vividly picture Silvestr in those contexts and situaltions.
My book about my granduncle Silvestr was first published in Czech in October 2020.
Size: 130 × 215 mm
Extent: 287 pages text
Binding: Paperback
Weight: 480 g
ISBN: 978-981-94-1919-7